We recently had the chance to connect with Tehila Ohana and have shared our conversation below.
Tehila , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, one of the most meaningful parts of my life has become belly dancing. Over the past year, I’ve taken courses and fallen in love with the grace, beauty, and cultural richness of the dance. It’s something I’ve always admired — not just for how elegant and powerful it looks, but for the deep confidence and presence it inspires. Every class I take reminds me that I am allowed to move through the world in a way that feels right and empowering for me. There’s something incredibly liberating about expressing myself through movement, and it’s brought me a deep sense of joy, strength, and connection.
Belly dancing has also been a deeply personal and healing journey for me. After experiencing sexual abuse in the past, I sought a way to reconnect with my body on my own terms — to reclaim it, honor it, and feel proud of it again. Belly dancing has helped me do that. It has allowed me to reconnect physically, rebuild mentally, and celebrate who I am — not in spite of my past, but in full ownership of my present. What started as a curiosity has become a passion, and not just because it makes me happy, but because it stands as a symbol of my healing, my confidence, and my freedom.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tehila. I’m a fashion designer and artist. By day, I design dancewear that celebrates the beauty and freedom of the human body in motion. By night, I’ve recently begun working on a passion project, a fine art and fashion collection titled Confusione, which means “confusion” in Italian. I envision this project taking around two years to complete, with the goal of showcasing it in galleries, fashion shows, and art-based competitions. It’s a body of work born from personal experience, emotional transformation, and a desire to create change through art and conversation.
Confusione was inspired by a painful memory. On December 27th, 2022 I was sexually assaulted by means of coercion, an experience that left me deeply confused. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what had happened to me. I didn’t have the language for it. I didn’t know what coercion meant. That awareness only came much later. In the aftermath, I struggled with many self-blaming thoughts. The only thing that brought me any relief, a way to escape the constant replaying of the trauma, was learning Italian. Listening to and speaking the language felt like hearing a beautiful song that softened the noise in my head. That unexpected source of comfort inspired the name Confusione, a reflection of both the inner chaos I felt and the beauty I found while trying to heal.
Part of the project will include a series of self-portraits that explore how I saw myself during the experience and how I see myself now—more aware, more empowered, and actively reclaiming my story. But this collection goes far beyond self-expression. It is a call for better sex education, something I never received growing up in a religious community where the topic was considered taboo. I had to learn many things the hard way and I don’t wish that upon anybody. I strongly believe that sex education should begin the moment a child enters pre-k. Age-appropriate conversations around body autonomy, boundaries, and respect should start early and evolve as children grow. These topics should not be taboo. Education is a form of protection, and with knowledge comes power—the power to understand, to advocate, to prevent harm, and to heal.
If Confusione can inspire even one parent to start these conversations early, or help one person understand their right to safety and bodily autonomy, then this project will have done what it was meant to do.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
One of the first moments I felt powerful and proud of myself after the assault was during a trip to France with my mom. Before we left, I made a very intentional and symbolic choice: I wore the exact same outfit I had been wearing when the assault happened. It was a black long-sleeved bodysuit with a V neckline, a yellow midi circle skirt with bold black florals that resemble an animal print, black tights, and black boots. The outfit wasn’t just any outfit — the skirt had belonged to my mom when she was my age, and she had sewn it herself. It once made me feel beautiful and confident, but after the assault, I didn’t have a good connotation with it anymore. I didn’t want to let that memory take over something that once brought me joy. So I wore it again — this time, by choice, in a completely new setting, hoping to rewrite its meaning. Why should my perpetrator have the power to take that away from me?
At the airport, something unexpected happened that gave me an opportunity to reclaim my voice. My mom and I were checking in when the flight attendant insisted she would have to pay for a checked bag. But we had been careful — both of our bags were well within the size limits of a personal item. The issue? My mom’s bag had wheels. The attendant insisted that alone disqualified it, even though it met the listed dimensions. I felt frustrated — not just because of the money, but because it felt like a manipulation of the rules. So I spoke up, calmly but firmly: “Her bag is smaller than 16x12x6, which are the dimensions of a personal item. Just because it has wheels doesn’t mean it doesn’t qualify.” The attendant called over a manager, and eventually, they allowed my mom to board with her bag as a personal item.
It wasn’t about the fee. It was about standing up for what was right, and not letting someone get away with using power unfairly. Afterwards, my mom told me how proud she was, that she probably would have just paid the fee to avoid confrontation — even though it wasn’t necessary. Later, on the plane, someone who had overheard everything turned to me and said, “It’s good you stood up.” That quiet affirmation felt really meaningful.
Wearing that outfit on that day, in a moment where I confidently stood my ground, felt like a full-circle moment. It became a symbol of reclaiming not just clothing or confidence, but my right to use my voice and to feel proud of who I am. Healing doesn’t always look like big milestones — sometimes it shows up in the smallest, most unexpected moments. And this was one of them.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
It wasn’t my fault. Deep down, I know that. There’s nothing more I could have done to change the outcome. Still, certain moments from that incident play over in my mind — and I catch myself wondering, What if I had said something differently? Would it have changed anything? But the truth is, no. It would have ended the same way. Logically, I understand that many of my thoughts are irrational, that this kind of self-blame is a result of trauma, not truth. And while my heart hasn’t fully caught up yet, I believe that with time, it will.
What happened to me doesn’t define who I am. I’m a designer. I’m an artist. I am someone who creates. So now, I’m taking this awful memory and turning it into something meaningful. Not because it erases what happened, and certainly not because it makes it okay. It never will. I’ve learned so much since then — about consent, about my body, about my worth — and that knowledge is something no one can ever take from me again. Knowing what I know now, I will never allow anyone to treat me as less than I deserve. That, in itself, is powerful. And that is how I begin to heal — not by forgetting, but by creating something new from the pieces.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Working on my project Confusione is one of the most meaningful and important things in my life right now. While I’ve set a two-year timeline to complete the fine art and fashion collection, I know that the message behind it will stay with me far beyond the final work.
I believe sex education is one of the most powerful tools we can give to both children and adults. It offers knowledge, safety, and self-respect — the kind of understanding that can help prevent harm and create a foundation for healthy boundaries, consent, and confidence. Education is not just about information; it’s about empowerment. And for me, Confusione is a way to contribute to that shift — to turn a painful experience into something that sparks dialogue, promotes learning, and maybe even inspires change.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I think about the legacy I hope to leave behind, it’s not just about the clothes I’ve designed or the art I’ve created — it’s about the impact. I hope that when I’m gone, people will remember my work as something that inspired them to be fully themselves. If by sharing my journey — the highs, the struggles, and everything in between — someone feels encouraged to find their own path, then I’ve done what I set out to do.
I’ve learned that just because something is difficult doesn’t mean it’s not worth pursuing. And just because you’re afraid of failing doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Progress takes time, and sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply keep going. I still have to remind myself of that — especially now, as I work toward completing my project Confusione. My dream is to one day see it on a runway and showcased in galleries. It’s not easy, but I believe that if you truly commit yourself to something, you can make it real. I want to be remembered not only for my creativity, but for the perseverance behind it — as someone who dared to dream, who didn’t give up, and who hoped to inspire others to do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tehilaohana.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tehila_ohana/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tehila-ohana-081a43182/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095052913798
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TehilaOhana
Image Credits
All Photography: By Tehila Ohana
